Bed or the like



NOV. 11, 1952 LORENZ 2,617,118

BED OR THE LIKE Filed Dec. 24, 1947 INVENTOR.

ANTON LORENZ ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OR THE LTKE Anton Lorenz, Bufialo, N. Y.

Application December 24, 1947, Serial No. 793,585

foot-sectionmay be removed through planes parallel to each other when-the seat-section'is swung about its pivot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bed or the'l-ike of above described type with amechanism, by means'of which the angle between the foot-section and the seat section is 1 decreased when the seat-section is swung into an inclined position. i o

A further object of the present invention isto improve" on the art of adjustable beds or the'like as -nowordinarily made. i I

With the above and other objectsof the invention in view, the inventionconsists 'inthe novel construction, arrangement and combinationof various "devices, elements and parts as set forth in'the claims hereof cert'ai'n embodimerits of the same being described in the specification and being illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of'this specification, wherein: v Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an adjustable bed according to the invention, said sectional view-being takenin such a plane, "that the articulated bed-bottom and the mechanism connected therewith appears in elevation,

Ffig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of adifiere'nt embodiment of an adjustable bed according to theinvention, v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational View illustrating the locking device of the bed shown in 1 Fig. 1 in an enlarged scale, and

Fig 4jis a sectional view taken on lined- 4 arms. 3, I

Referring" newts Figs.'- l, sand 4, l generally indicates the supporting frame of a bed. Said supporting frame i0- eom-prises a headframe 12 and a foot-frame M connected with eaeh'other by a pair of longitudinal'rails" 16, only one of said longitudinal rails being shown in the drawings. A head section i8 is pivotally conhosted with one endportion of a central. seat-' 19 Claims. (Cl. 5- 6! 2 section at 22; the other end portion of said central seat-section 20 is pivotally connected with a foot-section 24 at 26. The pivotally joined head section l8 and central seat-section 20 are pivotally mounted at 22 on lugs 28, carried by the'longitudinal rails [6. In other words, the pivotal mounting of said pivotally joined headsection'and central seat-section on the support [01's coaxial with the pivotal connection between said head-section and central seat-section. In normal use of the bed, the head-section 18 central seat-section 20, and foot-section 24 forming an articulated bed-bottom resting on the longitudinal rails [6 f the support in a; substantially horizontal position with the sections substantially in alignment with each other, and are capable of supporting'a mattress (not shown). I On each side of the bed, the head-section l8 isp'rovided with an extension 30, rigidly connected therewith. Said extension arranged on the head-section ill for a purpose to be described hereinafter projects from-said head-"section beyond its pivotal connection 22 with the central seat-section 20. The extension 30 is offset and lies in the'plane of the longitudinal rails [6, when the head-section I8 is in its horizontal position resting on the longitudinal rails IS. The extension 30 is provided with a series of bores '32.

on each side of thebed', the upper end of a guiding link 34 is swingably' mounted on a transverse rod 36 carried bythe longitudinal rails 16. The lower end of a first connecting link 38 is pivotally connected with said guiding link 34 by a pin "40 inserted into a bore of a series of bores 42*of the first connecting'link 38 and a bore of a series of bores' ld of the guiding link 34. The upper end of sai'd'first connecting link 38 pivotally connected at 46 with the end portion of the central seat-section 2t adjoining the footsect'ion' .24. The lower end of the guiding link 34 is pivotally connected with one end of a second connecting link 48 normally arranged below the plane of the central seat-section 29 by apin" 50 inserted into a bore of-a series of bores 52 of the second connecting link 48 and a bore of a 'series of bores 54 of the guiding link 34; The other .eriq'ersaidseeena connecting link 43 is prOvided witli 'a seriesv of bores 56 r I ,7 1

As may be readily gathered from :Fig; 1,-the

' pivotal connection 50 between the. second'connectin'g link 4:? and the guiding link 34 1s at a point spaced from the pivotal connectionq lflibetween the first connecting link 33 and the guiding link34l The first connecting 3-s'is pivoted at 40 to an-intermediatepoint of the guiding'link 20 is lifted.

34, which is located between the pivotal connection 36 of the guiding link with the support I and the pivotal connection 50 of the guiding link 34 with the second connecting link 48.

When the head-section I8 is swung about its pivot 22 into the elevated position I8", the extension 30 of said head-section I8 is brought into the position 30", wherein it may be connected with the left hand end portion of the second connecting link 48 by means of the pin inserted into a bore 32 of the extension 30 being in register with a bore 56 of the second connecting link 48. When the extension 30 thus is pivotally connected with the second connecting link 48, a constrained complex linkage including the head-section I8, with its extension 30, the central seat section 20, the first connecting link 38, the guiding link 34 and the second connecting link 48 is formed. Thus, when now the head-section is swung from its position I8" into the position I8, the central seatesection will be swung about its pivot 22 into the lifted inclined position'20. Of course, if the head-section is swung'into a position other thanthe-position I8', t he central seat-section 20 a will be swung into a position other than the position 20', as determined by the arrangement of the links of the constrained complex linkage.

- -One end of a telescopic controlling link 58 is pivoted at 60 to a lug 62 arranged on the lower surface of the foot-section 24 substantially in the center thereof. The other end of said controlling link 58 is swingably arranged on the transverse rod 36 carried by the support I0. Thus, when the central seat-section 20 is swung into an inclined position, for example into the position 20', the foot-section 24 will be displaced by means of the controlling link 58, for example into the position 24. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1,

the link-system formed by the central seat-secvtion 20, the foot-section 24, the controlling link 58- and the portion of the support between its pivotal connection 38 with the controlling link 58 and its pivotal connection 22 with the central seat-section 20 is in the shape of a parallelogram,

foot-section 24 is moved through planes parallel ,to each other, when the central seat-section 20 is swungabout itspivot 22.

If desired, however, the telescopic controlling link 58 may be disengaged from thelug 62, and may be pivoted to anotherlug64 of the foot -section 24. In such a case, the above mentioned link-system is not in the shape of a parallelogram 'and the foot-section 24 will be at an-angle to the horizontal plane, when the central seat-section j In any'case, however; the arrangement of the 'controllinglinkjil as shown in the drawings will cause a decrease ofthe angle between the footsection 24 and the seat-section 20, when'the'l'at- 'ter is lifted.

As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and l, the bed is'pro- "vided with a locking device, generally indicated by 66, by means of which the central seat-section '20 may be held in any desired'position relative to the support I0; Of course, if the extension of the head-section I8 is pivotally connected with tion I20'at I22.

If the locking knob I8 is loosened, the bar 68 may.

be freely moved, so that the seat-section 20 may be brought into any desired position. If, however,

the locking knob I8 is tightened, so that it clamps the bar 68 against the rail IS, the seat-section 20 is firmly held in its position. Apparently, if

none of the pivotal connections of the link-system of the bed is disengaged, all movable links of said link-system are likewise firmly held in their position. Of course, a different type of locking device could be used, and such a locking device could be arranged between other members of the linksystem.

As mentioned above, the leg-rest 24 will be in the horizontal position 24', when the seat-section 20 is swung into the inclined position 20. If it is desired to bring the foot-section into the position 24" in alignment with the inclined seat-section 20', the seat-section is held in its inclined position by means of the locking device 66, whereupon the set screw of the telescopic controlling I link 58 may be loosened for swinging the foot-section from the position 24 intothe position 24". Of course, when the foot-section is in said position 24", the set screw of the telescopic controlling link is tightened again.

Moreover, the relative movements of the headsection I8 and central seat-section 20 may. be adjusted by changing the position of one or more pivotal connections between two adjacent links of the constrained complex linkage. This may be effected by engaging the pins 40 and 50 for example with diifere'nt bores of the series of bores 52, 54 and 42, 44 respectively.- Likewise, the pin connecting the extension 30 with .the second connecting link 48 may be engaged with other bores ,than'the last bores of the series'of bores 32 of the extension 30 and the last bore of the series of bores 56 of the second connecting link 48.

. In'the-embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the central seat-section generally indicated by 120 comprises a stationary portion I2I secured to the rails I I6of the support M0 by brackets I or the like, and a movable portion I23 pivoted at I25 to the stationary portion I2I. The head-section H8 having the extension I30 is pivoted to the stationary. portion l2I of. the central seat-sec- The foot-section I24 is pivoted tothe movable portion I23 of the centralseatsection I20 at I26. The head-section H8, cen- -tral seat-section I20 and foot-section 124- form an articulated bed-bottom normally restingv in a horizontal position on the rails 6 of the-support IIO with the individual sections thereof in alignment; r

Again, the'upper end of a guiding link I34 is swingably mounted on atransverse rod I36; of the support H0. The lower end of saidguiding link I34 is pivoted at I5lgto the lower end of a first connecting link I38, the upper end, of which is pivoted to the movable portion I23 of the central seat-section I20. at I46; One end-oi a second connecting link I48 is pivoted to the'guidingf link I34 'at "I4I at'a pointloc'ated between the pivotal serene giliding link- IM with thefirst connecting link 8-.- The' other end" or said seo'fid connecting link Bis provided with abore I56, Which-may be brought ihtoregistering positionwith a .bfiie I32 of the extension I30; when the-head=scction I.l8 is brought into theleva-ted position H8", whereupon the extension I30" off the headasec'tion H8 nowbeing in the position I30" may be pivota-llyconnected with the second connecting link 8- bya pin inserted into the bores I 56 and I 3-2; When the extension I30 is pivotallyconnected with the second connecting link I48 a com strained complex linkage is formed so that the head-section I-I-8;and the movable hortion- I-2-3- of the seat-section I are moved in dependence'on eachother; when the head-section; H8;- isswung about itsiiivot) 1-2-2; v

' She end; of a telescoiaiccontiollinglink I 58 is pivoted at I60 to a lug I62 arranged on'the foot section I24. The other end-of said'contiol lihg link is. s'wingably mounted on a, transverse rod I31 carried by the longitudinal-Trails IIB-Of'the snpport H0 at-a distance from the-transverserod I36. The'pivotal connection I of-the-swingable portion I23 of the seat-section with the stationary portion I2'I of said seat-section, the pivotal'connection of the movable portion I23 of the seat-section with theffootsection I2 4-, thepivotal connection I60 of the foot-section I24 with the controlling link I58fand the pivotal? connection I31 of the controllin'gli'nk I58 with the support H0 are arrangedin such a manner; that they are at the corners of a, parallelogram, whereby the foot-section I24 will be moved through planes parallel to each other, when the movable portion I2-3qf the seat-section is swung about its pivot 125; Of course, if 'desired said' pivotal connections. may be arranged in adifferent mariner; for

exam le by connecting'tlie controlling- I53 withthe lug I64 instead of'the' lug I62" or la erranging one or more ofth ej other ivots-in a 'dif ferentposition. V V

The movable members of'the bed may b'e held in any desired position by means ofa' lockihgfdevice. I .66: arranged between the movable portion I23 of the seat section I 20" and the support, H01 Fig. 2.doe's not illustrate. the arrangement of series of bores. in the various links, foraltering the position of thepivotal connections relative to each other, but it is; understood that" stich: means may be arranged. V g

I have. described. preferredembodiments ofmy invention, but it is understood that numerous changesandomiSSiOnS may be made without. departing from the spirit: and scope of the ap. pended claims. For example, the bed shown in Fig,.2'could"be equippedwith an arrangement of the first connecting link, guiding link and second connecting link shown in Fig. 1; wherein the first cohhectinglinkiis pivoted to an intermediate point. of the guiding link, or else, the b'edshown iii; Fig. 1 could'b'e equippedwith an arrangement of'theffirst connecting link, giiidinglinkandisem and. connecting. link in the manner shown'ih- Fig. '2f.. whrein the second connecting.link is'pivoted to. an: intermediate point 'ofthe guiding link.

What- I, claim is: k 1. A bed i'mit. comprisingi; a support include ing longitudinal rails, a head-section, a central seat section, a foovsection. said head section being pivoted to oneend portionoffsaid central seat section, said footesection v being connected with the other end portion of said central-seat= section, said head-section, central seat-section and foot-section forming a bed-bottom orma lv resting on said longitudinarrails in a substantially-horiizontalhosition witn tiie sections setstani nany'in 'aiignment with eachother, at least one section of'said pivotally joined head sectionand c ntral seat-section being; pivstanym untedecn said subvert; an extension arranged on. said head 's'ection, said extension project ng from said head section' beyond its 'pivotal cc with Y the centi al seat-section. a guiding}- lin upper; end portionof said -g'uidinglinls-bein'g oted tosaid stiiaport. a connecting-link. upiier end portion of said first" connecting! nk beingpivoted-to the end portion of's'aidce seat'sectioir adjoining the foot section e-low'er. end portion f said first connecting. li-rikz'heiiig pivcteeto Said guiding link; and a; seccndic'om of said centrar'seat section, one endio ecre ondfco'nnecting link being pivoted" to said-gm d= ing, linleat anoint spaced fiomthe pivotar con nectiofi of the: latter with said" first-:ccmiecting nesting. link noifnally arrangedbeicw the plane I link, the other end of said'fse'cond connecting.

the pivotal connect-ion omiieguidmg, link with.

the'secon'd connecting link. I

3. Ina. bed as .clai'nidin claim l,s'aid*"seccndv connecting. linkbeing pivoted to a point of saidjguiding link located betweenjtfie pivot necticn cntheguiding' link-with. the snp'pcrttand the. pivotal connection of. the. guiding. linkwith thefirsitconiiecting link. 7

4. In. a bedunit. as claimedflin. claim 1; means whereby theJpo'siti'oii of the pivotal; connections betweentwo adjacent links. maybe adjiistedt 5. In abed unit; as. claimedfin. claimi; 166k? ing means. associated. with. the sii'ppoit'enda,

movabljf'meinb'er. of the bed? unitf f locking. said moi/gable member; a 'piedeterniinedhsiition relativeto the support,

pivotal. mounting of said pivictany. joi 11 ad: section. and central. seatrsection on. t e. sunnort being coaxial with. thepivot'al ccnnectionbe tween. said-headrse'ction. and said: 'centmLseat section. i g

7. A bed unit,. comprising; a support. incliidingylongitudinal rails, a .head+se.ction,. a; central seat-section, including; a. stationary portion and a. portion movablerelative thereto. a. fOQtfSEQr tion,v said; stationary-1 portion .-of...the -eentral. seat-e section being rigidly connected. with. said sun- 6-. In. a, bed unit asclaiiiiedin ciaiin. the

port; said head-section; being swingablerelative to said? stationary portion-coil saidz-central S381"?- section; said footz-sectiona being; connected": with the end: portion of? the movable portion: of.- said central seat section remote fror'n the stationaiiy portion thereof, said head-section central 'seatsection and foot-section forming abed bottom normally resting on said lbngitudinal:railsaina substantially horizontal position with the sec? tions substantially in alignment-witheaohiotlier, andextension arranged: on said head=section, said extension projecting from saidheadi-section beyond. its pivotal connection. with-the.- central 7 seat-section, a guiding link, the upper end per-1 tion of said guiding link being pivoted to said support, a first connecting link, the upper end portion of said first connecting link being pivoted to the end portion of the movable portion of said central seat-section adjoining the foot-section, the lower end portion of said first connectin link being pivoted to said guiding link, and a second connectinglink normally arranged below the plane of said central seat-section, one end of said second connecting link being pivoted to said guiding link at a point spaced from the pivotal connection of the latterwith said first connecting link, the other end of said second connecting link being in pivotal connection with said extension .of the head-section, and at least one pivotal connection between one of said links and a member joined thereto being disengageable whereby said head-section, central seat-section and footsection may be brought substantially into alignment with each other so as to form said bedbottom resting on said longitudinal rails. -8. .I n abed unitas claimed in claim 7, said second connecting linkbeing pivotedto a point of said guidinglink located between the pivotal connection of the guiding link with the support and the pivotal connection of the guiding link with the first connecting link. 9; A bed unit, comprising: a support including longitudinal rails, a head-section, a central seat-section, a foot-section, said head-section .be'ing pivoted to one end portion of said central seat-section, said foot-section being pivoted to the other end portion of said central seatsection, said head-section, central seat-section and foot-section forming an articulated bed-bottom normally resting on said longitudinal rails in a substantially horizontal" position with the sections substantially in alignment with each other, at least one section of said pivotally joined head- 'section and centr'al'seat-section being pivotally mounted on said support, an extension arranged on said head-section, said extension projecting from said head-section beyond its'pivotal con 'nection with the central seat-section, a guiding link, the upper end portion of said guiding link beingpivoted to said support, a first connecting link,' the upper end portion of said first connectiii'ghn'kbeing pivoted to the end portion of said central seat-section adjoining the foot-section;

the lower end portion of said first connecting link being pivotedto said guiding link, a second con necting link normally arranged below the plane f'dfisaid central seat-section, one end of saidsecond connecting link being pivoted to said guiding link at a point spaced from the pivotal connection oi the latter with said first connecting link, the other end of said second connecting "link being in pivotal connection with said extension ofthe head-section, at least one pivotal connection between one of said links and a member joined thereto being disengageable whereby said head-section, central-section and foot-section "may be brought substantially into alignment with each other so as to form said articulated bed-bottom resting on said longitudinal rails, and a controlling link, one end of said controlling -link being pivoted to said support, and the other end of said controlling link being pivoted to said foot-section. V

10. In a bed unit as claimed in claim 9,-said first connecting link being pivoted to a pointer said guiding link located between the pivotal connection of the guiding link with the support and the pivotal connection of the guiding link with the second connecting link.

1l. In a bed unit as claimed in claim 9, said second connecting link being pivoted to a point of said guiding link located between the pivotal connection of the guiding link with the support and the pivotal connection of the guiding link with the first connecting link. I

1 2 In a bed unit as claimed in claim 9, said central seat-section being pivoted to the support, and the link-system formed by the centralseate section, the foot-section, the controlling link and the portion of the support between its pivotal connections with the controllinglink and with the central seat-section being in the shape qt a, parallelogram for moving the foot- -s ectio n through planes parallel to each other. 13. In a bed unit as claimed in claim 9, -the piv votal connection between the controllinglink and the support being coaxial with the pivotaleonnection between the upper end of the guiding linkand the support. a l

t 14. in a bed unit as claimed in claim-9, the pivotal connection between the controlling link and the support being spaced from thepivotal connection between the upper end of the guiding link and the support.

15. In a bed unit as claimed in claim 9, means whereby the position of the pivotal connections between two adjacent links may be adjusted.

16. In a bed unit as claimed in claim 9, the

pivotal mounting of said pivotally joined headsection and central seat-section on the support being coaxial with the pivotal connection between said head-section and said central seat,- section. "3 17. A bed unit, comprising: a support-include ing longitudinal rails, a head-section, acentral seat-section including a stationary portion and Ya portion movable relative thereto, afoot-section, said stationary portion of the central seat-sec}; tion being rigidly connected with said support, said head-section being swingable relative to's'aid stationary portion of said central seat-section, said foot-section being pivoted to the'end portion of the movable portion of said central, seat-sec,- tion remote from the stationary portion thereof, said head-section, central seat-section and footsection forming an articulated bed-bottom normally resting on said longitudinal rails'in a substantially horizontal position with th'e'sections substantially in alignment with eachv other, an extension arranged on said head-section; said extension projecting from said head-sec'tionbe A yond its pivotal connection with thecentral seatsection, a guiding link, the upper end portion of said guiding link being pivoted to said support, a first connecting link, the upper end portion of said first connecting link being pivoted to the end portion of the movable portion of said. central seat-section adjoining the foot-section, the lower end portion of said first connecting link being pivoted to said guiding link, a second'connecting link normally arranged below the plane of said central seat-section, one end of said second connecting link'being pivoted to said guiding link at a point spaced from the'pivotal connection of the latter with said first connectinglink, the other end of said second connectinglink being in pivotal connection with said'extension of the head-section, at least one pivotal connection between one of said links and a member joined thereto being disengageable whereby said headsection, central-section and foot-section may be brought substantially into alignment with each other so as to form said articulated bed-bottom resting on said longitudinal rails, and a controlling link,'one end of said controlling link being pivoted to said support, and the other end of said controlling link being pivoted to said toot-section.

18. In a bed unit as claimed in claim 17, said second connecting link being pivoted to a point of said guiding link located between the pivotal connection of the guiding link with the support and the pivotal connection of the guiding link with the first connecting link.

19. In a bed unit as claimed in claim 17, a pivotal connection between said stationary and movable portions of said central seat-section, the distance between said last mentioned pivotal connection and the pivot connecting said movable seat-portion with the foot-section being equal to the distance between the pivot connecting said foot-section with the controlling link and the pivot connecting said controlling link with the support, and the distance between the pivot connecting said foot-section with the movable seat-portion and the pivot connecting said foot-section with the'controlling link being equal REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,601,908 Cook Oct. 5, 1926 1,908,530 Nixon May 9, 1933 2,194,998 Christensen Mar. 26, 1940 20 2,433,521 Lorenz Dec. 30, 1947 2,468,765 Lorenz May 3, 1949 

